District promotes options for commuters

Published 5:03 pm, Tuesday, July 15, 2014

When engineer Rod Koertner leaves his Katy home in the morning heading toward the Energy Corridor for work, timing is everything.

"I have to leave by 6:30 or (Interstate 10) will be full all the way from Fry Road to Dairy Ashford," he said. "My co-worker in The Woodlands leaves at 4:30; so he can get in early and leave work in time to beat the afternoon traffic. Otherwise he wouldn't be able to see his kids after school."

The 84,000 workers in the Energy Corridor make it the third-largest employment center in the city, ranked behind downtown and the Uptown/Galleria area, according to the Energy Corridor District. Between February and March, the district conducted an electronic commuter survey involving about 1,000 participants, finding that more than 75 percent live west of the district from areas including Cypress, Katy and Fort Bend County.

Responding to the survey were about 100 corridor residents and more than 900 commuters. Of those commuters, 38 percent drive further than 20 miles to work, while only 14 percent use alternate modes of transit like carpooling, the Metropolitan Transit Authority or cycling.

One issue is the number and frequency of Metro routes from Katy and points west.

"If I tried to take Park & Ride, I'd have to start at Grand Parkway and go all the way to the Northwest Transit Center, then take a local bus after that," Koertner said. "It would take longer than driving."

The 75 Eldridge Crosstown line, introduced in 2013, is bringing some relief in a route running along Eldridge Parkway between the Addicks and Mission Bend park-and-ride facilities.

"Ridership on the 75 is increasing. It has been gradual, but very steady," said John Nunez, the Energy Corridor District's transportation manager.

"We've seen gains of 7 percent for the full year, while other Metro routes are holding steady or losing ridership over the same period."

More than 400 commuters ride the 75 Eldridge line each weekday, according to Metro's May 2014 ridership data.

The 75 line costs $1.25 each way and is free on Fridays through Sept. 30.

The Metro system is undergoing the "Reimagining Project" to move transit stops to more convenient locations and increase frequency of service to high-traffic areas like the Energy Corridor.

More than 72 percent of survey respondents stated more direct transit service would increase the likelihood they use Metro to commute.

In the meantime, the district is developing additional transit options such as helping commuters set up vanpools.

Anyone in Harris and Fort Bend counties can call Metro to sign up for Metro Star. Riders are either matched with an existing vanpool or given help start a new one.

As part of the service, Metro provides a free emergency ride if commuters are scheduled to work late or need to leave work for an emergency.

Two Enterprise CarShare lots have also opened in the corridor. The CarShare program provides hourly vehicle rentals so commuters have easy access to vehicles during work hours.

"There are incentives of free hours once you log your commute time into the CarShare system," Nunez said. "We're looking into more parking agreements for late summer and fall, including the large apartment buildings; so even local residents have more access."

CarShare rental includes all insurance, fuel and maintenance. Those who sign up for CarShare through the district receive $25 in driving credits plus $25 in credits for each quarter when alternate transportation is logged each month. Hourly rental rates range from $3 to $9 depending on when the rental occurs.

Bikeways and intersections are being improved throughout the district to make bike commuting easier and safer.

"We just completed improvements to several intersections to remove barriers and make it easier for people to safely cross from one side of I-10 to the other," Nunez says.

There's also plans to participate in the Carma carpool program, https://carmacarpool.com. This real-time smartphone app and website matches people to carpool together.

Nunez said of the program, "Carma has been tested and proven in cities like Austin. We're working on funding to introduce the service in early fall."